Fantasy Gives me Heroes

I'm a little behind in the A-Z. I've decided not to feel guilty about that considering my last post on Exhaustion, but I am now in catchup mode so I'm going to kill three birds with one stone.

Fantasy Gives me Heroes

I am a big fantasy nut. I grew up with my older brother's cast-offs of Narnia, The Hobbit and The Northern Lights. It's always been one of my staples, what I go back to when I'm feeling the desire to get well and truly lost in a world. I love the made up creatures, worlds and magic. And I love the heroes and heroines that every fantasy story has.

I'm half-way through Green Rider by Kristen Britain at the moment, and I love Karigan; she's what a heroine should be. Strong but willing to ask for help, and not blindly walking into dangerous situations that could have been avoided with a bit more forethought.

Froi, of Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta, will do whatever needs to be done, is fiercely loyal but also fiercely intelligent. Even if he doesn't think so himself. His life didn't have heroic beginnings but kindness from others, and the loyalty those deeds generated in him, raised him above his past. He is an excellent, if unlikely, hero.

Valek, from the Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder is not the main hero in the story but he plays his part well. Not controlling, he never tries to steal the show from Yelena, but he's there when he needs there. And he's just kind of ... awesome.

Do you have a favourite hero or heroine? Here's a some inspiration from a hero story that breaks all the rules.